My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Zhao Guihua was sharing a room with a strange man for the first time, and she felt a bit uneasy. However, when she thought about how this man had ended up in such a state because of her, she steeled herself and decided to stay. After all, she had even dared to use arsenic—what was there to fear from a sickly man?

Besides, she stole a glance at Old Man Zhuang and felt that he was a good person, someone she could trust.

At just sixteen years old, Zhao Guihua hadn’t met many people or experienced much in life, but she believed she had a good sense of character. Looking at the somewhat timid Old Man Zhuang, she said, “Let’s start cleaning up.”

“Alright,” Old Man Zhuang replied, his face flushed. It was unclear whether it was from the fever caused by his illness or from embarrassment, but his cheeks were burning red. He got up and helped Zhao Guihua tidy up the small space. After a while, Zhao Guihua suggested, “Later, we’ll hang a curtain in the room to divide it into two halves.”

She paused, then added seriously, “I’m only doing this because I trust you. But if you try anything inappropriate, I’ll chop you up!”

Old Man Zhuang quickly shook his head. “I won’t,” he said earnestly. At this point, Old Man Zhuang was just a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy. Though his skin was tanned from the sun, he still looked young and innocent. He straightened up and said, “I’m not that kind of person. I know you’re helping me, and I’m grateful.”

Zhao Guihua let out a soft hum and gave him a once-over before nodding.

Old Man Zhuang hesitated. “What about… outsiders?”

“Why bother about outsiders? We’ll just tell people we’re cousins. If anyone dares to gossip, I’ll slap them silly.”

Old Man Zhuang blinked. “Oh.”

Zhao Guihua continued, “Just listen to me. We’ll stay here for now. Once you’re better, you can either find another place, or I’ll move out and leave this place to you. How does that sound?”

Old Man Zhuang nodded again, though for some reason, her words left him feeling a little unsettled. Still, he replied firmly, “I’ll do as you say.”

Zhao Guihua smiled faintly. She was quick and efficient with her work, and even though Old Man Zhuang was sick, the small space was soon cleaned up. As she worked, she asked, “Is it just you in your family?”

Old Man Zhuang nodded, a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Yes, it’s just me. My family’s all gone.”

Zhao Guihua wasn’t surprised. These were tough times, and many families had been torn apart, leaving people to struggle on their own. She herself was in a similar situation. Softly, she said, “I’m the only one left in my family too. I came here from the countryside all by myself to make a living.”

It wasn’t unexpected. If she still had family, she wouldn’t have been reduced to begging on the streets.

Old Man Zhuang said, “I used to live in Nanluoguxiang. After my father got sick, we sold the house to pay for his treatment, but it didn’t save him. After that, I was on my own.” He added with a touch of pride, “My father was a scholar. Do you remember the house we looked at the other day? The man who owns it was my father’s classmate.”

Zhao Guihua recalled what the restaurant worker had said. “And they still kicked you out?”

Old Man Zhuang looked a little embarrassed. “They helped me as much as they could. I got sick, and they were afraid it was contagious. It’s understandable.”

He seemed content, saying, “They gave me the job out of a bit of goodwill. My father’s been gone for four years now, so any ties have faded. Besides, I saved three months’ rent by staying there.”

Zhao Guihua couldn’t help but think he was too easy to take advantage of. She pressed, “How much did they pay you?”

Old Man Zhuang replied, “Thirty copper coins a month. We agreed they’d pay me when they returned, but when I got sick, the lady of the house said I had a contagious disease and insisted on throwing me out. In the end, I didn’t get a single coin.”

He didn’t mention the harsh words they’d hurled at him—calling him a freeloader and worse.

Zhao Guihua could tell from his expression and rolled her eyes. “So they just took advantage of you,” she said bluntly.

She added crisply, “I bet they never intended to pay you in the first place. They just wanted you to watch their house for free.”

Old Man Zhuang defended, “Uncle Li is a good man…”

“Did he stand up for you when they kicked you out?”

Old Man Zhuang’s lips tightened. “His wife runs the household. He couldn’t go against her. She’s from a scholarly family, but she’s quite fierce…”

Zhao Guihua snorted. “You really don’t understand anything, do you? You’re such a fool.” She rolled her eyes again. “This kind of thing happens all the time in my village. It’s just a game of good cop, bad cop. A lot of men are cowards. They think the same way but want to keep up appearances, so they let their wives do the dirty work. The women get the bad reputation, while the men stay clean and honorable. If anyone brings it up, they’ll just say, ‘A good man has a bad wife.’ But I see right through it. They’re all in on it—they just use their wives as shields.”

She had learned this from observing Uncle Xiangzi back in her village.

The man had a decent reputation, which was why Zhao Guihua had been so surprised when he turned out to have ulterior motives. His wife, on the other hand, was widely known as a shrew who did nothing good.

But now Zhao Guihua saw the truth: Uncle Xiangzi was just using his wife as a front. He was no better—or perhaps even worse.

She had seen other families in her village operate the same way. The women were blamed for all the bad deeds, but the men were quietly benefiting behind the scenes.

Zhao Guihua spoke with conviction, while Old Man Zhuang stared at her, stunned. “It’s really like that?”

She nodded. “Of course. You’ve clearly never had much life experience.”

Old Man Zhuang scratched his head and chuckled.

“They probably never really helped you or stayed close to you before,” Zhao Guihua added.

This time, Old Man Zhuang was even more surprised. “You’re right,” he admitted.

Thinking back, he realized it was true. When his father was alive, Uncle Li had been on good terms with him. But after his father passed away, the two families had drifted apart. He knew Uncle Li worked at a restaurant not far from here and sometimes came in to eat, but he had never acknowledged Old Man Zhuang. It was only a few months ago that Uncle Li had approached him, offering to help by giving him a job.

At the time, Old Man Zhuang had been deeply grateful.

But now, reflecting on it, he realized Zhao Guihua was right.

However, after thinking it over, he sighed and said, "Forget it. Even if they deliberately tricked me into being a doorman, I still saved three months' rent. Their gatehouse has electric lights, which is better than staying in a hotel."

He added, "Although they had ulterior motives, I still gained something from it."

Zhao Guihua gave him a deep look, feeling deeply moved by his simplicity and his tendency to see the good in people.

She then asked, "Alright, so even if they didn't pay you, you could say you stayed there for free. But what about the restaurant? Why didn't they pay you? Just because you got sick?"

Old Man Zhuang nodded, "I broke a plate, and the boss said it was worth more than ten days' wages."

He honestly admitted, "I worked there for several years, and the boss often found excuses to dock my pay. This time, it was a bit harsh, but it was indeed my fault. After all, no one wants to see a sick person wandering around when they're eating. People are afraid of getting infected."

Zhao Guihua tilted her head and looked at Old Man Zhuang, utterly baffled by his overly kind nature. People like him, she thought, would be taken advantage of until there was nothing left. She pursed her lips and said, "It's a miracle you've survived all these years..."

Old Man Zhuang smiled gently and said, "Good or bad, it's just another day. Whether I'm happy or not, life goes on. I don't want to make things harder for myself."

Zhao Guihua pursed her lips again and said, "You really are..."

She ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‍wanted to say more but didn't know how to describe this young man. She looked up at his face and noticed some sweat on his forehead. "Lie down," she said. "You're like this because of me. I'll take care of you these next few days."

Old Man Zhuang insisted, "I already told you it's not because of you. Don't keep blaming yourself. My health has never been particularly strong, and catching a cold is normal. It's not because I gave you my blanket."

Zhao Guihua didn't argue but instead said, "Stay at home. I'll go out and buy some necessities. Oh, by the way, your belongings are still at the footmen's dormitory, right? I'll go get them for you."

Old Man Zhuang immediately said, "I'll go myself. I don't feel comfortable letting you go there. It's full of men." He glanced at Zhao Guihua's delicate face. Even though she had shaved her head, she still looked like a pretty young girl.

The world was chaotic, especially in places like that.

He firmly said, "I'll go myself."

He asked, "Where are you going?"

Zhao Guihua didn't press him and said, "Then I'll go get my things. I have some stuff hidden behind the restaurant."

After a pause, she asked, "How much does the restaurant owner owe you?"

Old Man Zhuang replied, "Forty copper coins, but it was all deducted for the broken dishes. You..." He hesitated, "Are you planning to ask for it? Don't. The boss has connections. If we provoke him, it's always people like us without any backing who end up suffering."

He knew he sounded cowardly, but that was the reality of these troubled times.

What justice could you expect?

Zhao Guihua pursed her lips and said, "We'll talk about that later. First, I'll go buy some things."

"Here!"

Old Man Zhuang reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver dollar. His eyes sparkled with a mix of pride and embarrassment as he said, "Use this to buy things for the house."

He blushed slightly as he used the word "house," unsure if she had noticed.

Zhao Guihua... Zhao Guihua hadn't noticed at all. Instead, she asked curiously, "How do you have a silver dollar?"

Then she added, "If you have money, why didn't you use it to see a doctor?"

She looked at Old Man Zhuang as if he were a complete fool. How could someone be so naive?

Old Man Zhuang blushed and said, "This is all the money I have. I didn't dare spend it recklessly." Realizing how that sounded, he quickly added, "It's not that I'm unwilling to spend it. I was afraid that if I showed I had money, I'd be in even greater danger."

He explained, "I took two doses of medicine, but I wasn't fully recovered when I was kicked out. I couldn't find a place to stay, so I had to go to the footmen's dormitory. That place is full of laborers and lowlifes. Some of them are outright scoundrels. As soon as I arrived, people started probing to see if I had any money. If I started buying medicine, they'd know I had some cash, and they might have targeted me. I've worked as a waiter for years and heard all sorts of stories. That's why I toughed it out. I don't know if I made the right choice, but I thought that if I could endure the cold, I might recover. But if I showed even a hint of wealth, I might have been harmed."

Zhao Guihua pursed her lips. She was from the countryside and didn't realize the city could be so dangerous, but it didn't entirely surprise her. With Japanese soldiers, warlords, and traitors everywhere, there were plenty of people who would do anything for money. She nodded slightly and said, "I don't know if you made the right choice, but since this money is your hard-earned savings, you should keep it. You've helped me twice already. Now it's my turn to help you. Besides, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have lost your job."

"It's fine. I'll find another job once I recover," he quickly said.

"Take it," he insisted, "You..."

Zhao Guihua held his hand as he tried to give her the silver dollar and said, "Listen to me! You're a patient, so you should do as I say."

Old Man Zhuang: "..." What did being sick have to do with it?

But seeing how determined Zhao Guihua was, he became stubborn too. "If you don't take it, I'll leave. I can't burden a young girl like you. Besides, do you even have any money?"

Zhao Guihua nodded, "I do."

She half-truthfully said, "I came to the city not just to make a living but also to collect a debt. I've already gotten it."

Old Man Zhuang suddenly understood and said, "Even if you have money, I can't let you support me."

His face turned red again as he said, "If you don't take it, I'll leave."

Zhao Guihua looked at him, and the two were at an impasse. Finally, after a long pause, Zhao Guihua relented and said, "Fine, I'll take it."

Old Man Zhuang immediately brightened up and said, "That's more like it. Here."

Zhao Guihua took the silver dollar and put it away. She set down her bundle, keeping only a small bag tied to her body, and said, "I'm heading out now."

Old Man Zhuang nodded quickly and said, "Be careful."

Zhao Guihua hummed in acknowledgment and left. She didn't dare leave her money behind. As the saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry. Although she didn't think Old Man Zhuang was a bad person, she had been betrayed by people she had known all her life in the village. She couldn't fully trust outsiders.

Zhao Guihua walked out alone. Whether they were living together temporarily or planning to stay long-term, the house needed some essentials. Without hesitation, she headed straight for Wang Er's place—yes, the same Wang Er whose four brothers she had poisoned with arsenic.

Zhao Guihua went over to take a look, and sure enough, she discovered that this place had not yet been found out. She had already figured out that Wang Er and his gang were disliked by everyone, and most people avoided them. That was precisely why she had dared to stay at their house for a few days earlier. But now...

She climbed over the wall and entered. The last time she left, she had used up all the flour to make steamed buns, and she had also taken all the money. This time, she had come with a different purpose in mind. Zhao Guihua herself felt that her courage had grown as wide as a moat.

But she was bold, after all.

Fortunately, the weather wasn’t too hot at the moment. Although there was a foul smell inside the house, it wasn’t easily detectable from outside. Zhao Guihua covered her nose and mouth before entering. She gathered up the clothes and bedding, tying them into a bundle, and then collected some pots, pans, and utensils. It had to be said, there wasn’t much in this house. These people weren’t the type to live properly, so naturally, there wasn’t much to take.

Zhao Guihua rummaged around for a while longer and was about to leave when she suddenly tripped over a stool, crashing into a cabinet.

Zhao Guihua: "Ouch!"

She rubbed her forehead—it hurt so much.

She spat and said, "I’m not afraid of bad people like you!"

She was about to leave but suddenly stopped. The impact had caused the cabinet to reveal a slight crack. Zhao Guihua: "Huh?"

She pushed with all her might, and the entire cabinet shifted aside. Zhao Guihua looked inside: "Well, isn’t this a secret room?"

She poked her head into the entrance of the secret room. There was no sound inside. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed a kitchen knife and moved the cabinet to block the entrance before descending. Thankfully, she had come back again; otherwise, she would never have discovered this.

Zhao Guihua entered the secret room. It wasn’t complicated or large. With the cabinet open, the daylight allowed her to see everything clearly. She looked around and saw bags of grain on the floor. It seemed they had stored these as a backup for themselves.

After all, in these times, grain was the most important thing.

Zhao Guihua examined it more closely and was surprised to find rice.

Two bags of rice, two bags of flour, and six bags of mixed grain.

Zhao Guihua’s heart raced. Next to the bags of flour was a smoked pork leg. She was so excited—it was like a poor person suddenly striking it rich. In all her years, she had never seen such good food. She rubbed her eyes, feeling like she might cry again.

Her family had worked hard all their lives, barely managing to scrape by, only to encounter evil people who destroyed their home and left them with nothing. Yet, these wicked individuals had managed to store so much life-saving food. Zhao Guihua felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.

She wanted to say the world was unfair, but she also felt that finding these supplies was a rare stroke of luck.

She looked around the secret room. There was nothing else here, no money, just a small space dedicated to storing food. However, she did find a few pounds of salt in one of the bags. These were essential items.

Though these villains weren’t the type to live properly, they were certainly shrewd, knowing exactly what to store.

Zhao Guihua didn’t hesitate. She carried out all the supplies, one bag at a time. She couldn’t stay here long; the longer she delayed, the more dangerous it would become. Zhao Guihua pondered how to move everything, but as luck would have it, heaven always stood on the side of justice and never left people in dire straits. She soon noticed a cart in the yard. Zhao Guihua’s eyes lit up—what a coincidence! It was like the heavens had answered her prayers. She loaded everything onto the cart, tied a scarf around her head, and put on an old coat belonging to one of the villains. Once everything was ready, she knew she couldn’t come back again. She grabbed the lock, peeked outside to make sure no one was around, and quickly pushed the cart out, locking the gate behind her.

Zhao Guihua didn’t dare to delay. She quickly disappeared into the alley, pushing the cart all the way back to the courtyard. By the time she arrived, it was already evening.

Though it was dark, poor families couldn’t afford to waste even a moment. People were just returning home from work to cook dinner. Zhao Guihua pushed the cart into the courtyard and stopped it in front of her house. At this time, no one was around. She carried the supplies inside.

Old Man Zhuang was feeling drowsy. He had taken some medicine at the clinic earlier and, after running into Zhao Guihua, felt much better. However, after she left in the afternoon, he had gone out too, returning to the docks to fetch his luggage. The back-and-forth had left him feeling exhausted again. His illness had dragged on for over a week now, and his heart sank as he feared he might end up like his father, never recovering. He felt a mix of emotions—he was afraid Zhao Guihua wouldn’t come back, but he also scolded himself for doubting her. She might have a sharp tongue, but she was a good-hearted woman.

He had only helped her a little, yet she had come back to him and was helping him in return. He had never met such a kind woman before.

As he was lost in thought, he heard the door open. Zhao Guihua called out, "Come and help me."

Old Man Zhuang was startled but quickly replied, "Alright."

He hurried over and helped carry the bags inside without asking where they came from. Once everything was settled, Zhao Guihua said, "You’re sick. Let’s make some rice porridge tonight."

Old Man Zhuang’s eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn’t help but say, "Please don’t do anything dangerous. You’re a woman. If things get really bad, I’ll do whatever it takes to help."

Zhao Guihua blinked, and Old Man Zhuang’s face turned red again.

Zhao Guihua couldn’t help but tease, "You really blush easily."

Old Man Zhuang stammered, "I’m just sick."

He looked at her earnestly and said, "I don’t want you to take risks for my sake. If you do, I won’t be able to rest easy."

Zhao Guihua tilted her head, watching him. Old Man Zhuang avoided her gaze, his face growing even redder. He said, "In any case, you mustn’t get hurt. If anyone has to do something bad, it should be me." He took a deep breath. "I’m already so grateful that you came back to me."

Zhao Guihua, seeing the sincerity in his eyes, suddenly felt her own face heat up. She mumbled, "I didn’t take any risks."

Her gaze wandered as she added, "I just... emptied out the bad guys’ house."

She looked up and asked, "Do you think what I did was wrong?"

Old Man Zhuang didn’t hesitate. Firmly, he said, "If they’re bad people, then it’s not wrong at all. My father used to say that kicking a bad person is like giving a good person one more chance. So, we shouldn’t feel any sympathy for the wicked."

Zhao Guihua: "!!!"

She pondered his words and said, "That makes a lot of sense."

Old Man Zhuang raised his head proudly. "Of course. My father was educated."

Zhao Guihua sighed with envy. "That’s wonderful."

Curious, she asked, "What about you?"

Old Man Zhuang: "I’ve also studied, but only for a short while. I stopped when I was eleven because my father fell ill. After that, he couldn’t take care of me anymore, and I never went back to school. Then, when my father passed away, I lost any chance to continue my education."

Zhao Guihua: "No one in my family has ever studied."

She thought for a moment and decided to share a bit of the truth.

She said, "There were three children in my family—me and my two younger brothers. But when they went into the city to sell goods, they were tricked and killed. My grandparents couldn’t bear the loss and passed away soon after. Then, my parents died in an air raid… This time, when I went into the city, I found the people who harmed my family. These things I brought back were taken from their house."

Old Man Zhuang suddenly understood. He said, "You’re talking about settling a debt…"

Zhao Guihua sneered, "A debt of lives must be repaid with lives!"

Old Man Zhuang fell silent for a moment, then nodded seriously. "You’re right."

In another era, Zhao Guihua might not have been so quick to confess. But these were chaotic times, with the Japanese still causing trouble and society in disarray. If someone died and no one with influence or money pursued the matter, it was unlikely anyone would step forward.

This was also why her family had been powerless when her brothers died. Even if they had spent money, it would have been a bottomless pit. Moreover, the other side wasn’t easy to deal with—they also had the means to settle things with money. That’s why Zhao Guihua felt she could speak openly now. People like that—well, if they died, they died.

It all came down to whether one had the courage to do it.

Zhao Guihua: "I’m fierce."

Old Man Zhuang: "In times like these, those who aren’t fierce get bullied."

Zhao Guihua immediately broke into a bright smile and said, "Then you rest for a bit. I’ll make some food."

"I’ll help you."

Zhao Guihua: "Are you sure you’re up to it?"

After a moment’s thought, she added, "You should rest properly. The sooner you recover, the better."

Old Man Zhuang nodded earnestly. "Alright, I’ll listen to you."

Both of them were unfortunate souls, ordinary people living in difficult times. Many families were in similar situations, no better off than they were. Together, they cooked porridge, and Zhao Guihua sliced some salted meat to add to it.

It was a rare treat, and after finishing the porridge, Zhao Guihua sat near the door, brewing medicine for Old Man Zhuang. She said, "Drink this. It’ll help you recover faster."

Old Man Zhuang: "Thank you."

Zhao Guihua smiled brightly. "No need to thank me."

Though they hadn’t known each other for long, they had already shared a room together. This time, despite their shyness, they both tried to act "natural."

Zhao Guihua placed some old clothes between them as a divider, and they slept fully dressed. Fortunately, she had taken some blankets from Wang Er’s place, so they were warm. The people might be bad, but the blankets weren’t.

Zhao Guihua made do for the night, and early the next morning, she got up to cook more porridge. The good food was running low, but a sick person needed proper nourishment. She decided they could eat coarse grains later—for now, they would have something better to build up their strength.

She rose early, ate a bowl of porridge herself, and then headed out. Old Man Zhuang asked, "What can I do?"

Zhao Guihua, already at the door, said, "Take apart the bedding. We’ll wash it. It feels unclean otherwise."

"Alright."

Old Man Zhuang, happy to have a task, set to work eagerly.

Zhao Guihua went out alone, nodding politely to people in the courtyard but not engaging much. In these times, everyone was preoccupied with survival. She made her way to the back alley of a restaurant, where she had hidden her bundle. Thankfully, no one had discovered it.

While the items might be useful to beggars, most people with a decent living wouldn’t consider them valuable. Zhao Guihua glanced at the restaurant, thinking about how the owner was harsh and exploitative. She snorted, already hatching a plan for revenge.

But today was too late. Another day, she would come back to help Old Man Zhuang settle his score. The man was too honest for his own good—no wonder people took advantage of him. She had heard stories of him being cheated out of his wages multiple times.

Carrying her bundle, Zhao Guihua returned to find Old Man Zhuang had already taken apart the bedding and was fetching water. She quickly called out, "What are you doing? Let me handle it."

Old Man Zhuang: "I’m fine."

Zhao Guihua glared at him, and seeing her displeasure, he immediately said, "I won’t do it again."

Zhao Guihua: "If you don’t rest properly, how will you recover? Don’t push yourself like this. Honestly, what’s wrong with you?"

Old Man Zhuang listened to her scolding, his face red but smiling. Zhao Guihua quickly got to work and said, "I’ve been thinking. The things from that family are tainted. Besides…"

She lowered her voice, "I’m worried someone might recognize them. I plan to sell everything at the pawnshop. We don’t need that much anyway."

Old Man Zhuang: "Alright."

Zhao Guihua disguised herself, covering her face, before heading out again. Her own patched-up clothes weren’t worth much—a single copper coin was already generous. But the clothes from those scoundrels were in decent condition, with no patches and still fairly new. They might fetch a better price.

She bundled up the bedding, pots, pans, and other items, loading them onto a cart. Though the pawnshop offered low prices, Zhao Guihua managed to get some money, especially for the cart, which was more valuable. With the money, she bought a large piece of cloth, two sets of bowls and chopsticks, and returned home.

Zhao Guihua was like a busy little bee. Instead of making the bedding herself, she went to have the cotton fluffed. Another day passed, and she transformed the decent bedding from Wang Er and his brothers into two sets, saving some of the cotton to make herself a padded jacket.

She spent some money today, but it was from selling the items, so it balanced out.

Old Man Zhuang watched with some concern and said, "Do you have enough money? I’m feeling much better. I could go out and find some work…"

Zhao Guihua: "Can you stop fussing? You’re a grown man—why do you keep repeating yourself? Just focus on recovering. Don’t keep nagging about it."

Her sharp tone made Old Man Zhuang quickly focus on his dinner, not daring to say another word.

Zhao Guihua: "Am I being too harsh?"

Her grandmother and mother were both strong-willed women, so she had grown up with a fiery personality, unlike the gentler girls. As the eldest sister, she had taken care of her younger brothers, which had further shaped her into a tough and assertive person.

In the village, she had tempered herself somewhat, but Old Man Zhuang wasn’t particularly strong-willed, so Zhao Guihua naturally took the lead. However, when he fell silent, she realized he wasn’t like her younger brothers, who would just laugh and let her scold them.

She poked at her rice bowl and said, "I didn't mean to..."

Before she could finish, Old Man Zhuang interrupted her with a smile, saying, "I don’t mind being scolded by you."

Zhao Guihua blushed instantly.

Old Man Zhuang also turned red, glancing at her cautiously, afraid she might be upset. But he spoke earnestly, "Ever since my father passed away, no one has treated me this well."

Zhao Guihua pursed her lips, and Old Man Zhuang continued, "Even when you’re fierce, it’s fine. I don’t mind being nagged. I know it’s all for the sake of us, for our life to be better."

He looked at her with bright eyes, and Zhao Guihua suddenly felt flustered. She lowered her head and took a bite of rice, saying, "I’m not anyone special to you... It’s not right for me to nag you like this."

Old Man Zhuang was momentarily stunned, then quickly replied, "You’re my cousin, aren’t you?"

Zhao Guihua burst out laughing, "What kind of relative is that?"

Old Man Zhuang said, "You said it yourself."

Zhao Guihua mumbled something, and Old Man Zhuang kept his eyes on her. Seeing she wasn’t upset, he relaxed and grinned.

They ate in silence. After finishing, they both lay down. Wang Er and the others had sold their clothes, so Zhao Guihua hung up her and Old Man Zhuang’s old clothes and set up a divider in the middle of the kang. They lay down on either side. Old Man Zhuang said, "Once I’m better, I’ll go find a job."

He added, "I can pull a rickshaw, work as a waiter, or even get a job at a factory."

Zhao Guihua wanted to say that once he recovered, they would go their separate ways. But hearing Old Man Zhuang talk so happily about the future, she couldn’t bring herself to dampen his spirits. She asked, "Do you think I could work at a factory too?"

Old Man Zhuang thought for a moment and said, "It’s hard. Right now, only the silk factory is hiring, but you might not be able to do it."

Zhao Guihua sat up indignantly, "Why can’t I? Are you looking down on me?"

Old Man Zhuang quickly explained, "No, no, that’s not what I meant. The silk factory only hires experienced female workers, and they usually get in through referrals. You’re from out of town, so they probably wouldn’t take you."

He added, "Besides, the silk factory prefers women with delicate hands. I’ve... I’ve seen your hands. You’ve done farm work, so they wouldn’t want you."

He grew embarrassed as he mentioned having looked at her hands.

Zhao Guihua fell silent, pouting in frustration, but she knew Old Man Zhuang was right. She said, "I’ve had to do farm work in the countryside, so of course my hands are rough."

This was the difference between city girls and country girls. Even the poorest city girls had to work, but their hands were still much smoother than those who had done farm work. The silk factory was particular about this, afraid that rough hands would snag the delicate threads.

She sighed helplessly, "Finding a job is so hard. When I first came to the city, I was sure I’d find work, but it’s just not possible."

Old Man Zhuang said, "Of course. Even with my job as a waiter, if I weren’t willing to put up with deductions from my pay or being scolded, I’d have been fired long ago. There are too many people looking for work. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and you have to endure being bullied."

Zhao Guihua’s eyes flickered, and she said, "Let’s get revenge."

Old Man Zhuang asked, "Huh?"

Zhao Guihua said, "We won’t confront them directly. Let’s dump manure at their doorstep and make them miserable!"

She was fuming, "They’ve bullied you for too long."

Old Man Zhuang stared blankly at the curtain for a long time, then said seriously, "Alright, let’s do it together."

In truth, he had been bottling up his anger for years, but he had no one to rely on and no real ability to fight back. His father had always taught him to keep his head down. He was alone, young, and had no choice but to endure.

Over the years, he had grown used to being bullied. But now, hearing Zhao Guihua’s anger on his behalf, he felt an unusual warmth in his heart.

He sat up and said, "I’m really glad I met you."

Zhao Guihua felt her face grow warm. She tried to sound casual as she said, "We’re just fellow wanderers. You helped me, so I’ll help you too."

Old Man Zhuang chuckled and nodded firmly.

Zhao Guihua said, "Zhuang Haoren, Zhuang Haoren, ‘pretending to be a good person.’ Your name is actually quite strange."

Neither of them could sleep, so they chatted.

Old Man Zhuang said, "I know. That’s why I prefer being called by my nickname."

"Haoren" sounded nice enough, but paired with his surname, Zhuang, it was... He scratched his head and said, "Naming in my family wasn’t easy."

Zhao Guihua laughed again. Since the troubles at home, she hadn’t smiled much, but being around Old Man Zhuang had brought more laughter to her life. She said, "It’s also strange for a young guy like you to be called ‘Old Man.’"

Old Man Zhuang replied, "It’s not so bad. Better than being called ‘pretending to be a good person.’ That always makes people look at me twice, and it’s kind of embarrassing."

Zhao Guihua said, "True."

She turned over and said, "Let’s get some sleep. We’ve got mischief to do tomorrow morning."

Old Man Zhuang said, "Alright."

It was his first time planning to do something like this, and he felt oddly excited. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Zhao Guihua asked, "Are you okay?"

Old Man Zhuang said, "I’ve never done anything like this before."

Zhao Guihua said, "Neither have I, but there’s a first time for everything."

She said firmly, "If we can’t confront them openly, at least we can make them suffer a little."

"Right."

Old Man Zhuang said, "The boss is really terrible. Not only does he mistreat us, but he also cheats customers. He waters down the wine, buys cheap dead chickens to make soup, and even..."

Zhao Guihua said, "That’s awful."

Old Man Zhuang said, "When I first started working, I was young and didn’t know any better. I secretly told a customer about it. The customer got really angry and argued with the boss. In the end, the customer got twenty copper coins as compensation and left smugly, calling me an idiot. I was shocked. I couldn’t believe he’d say that about me. Because of that, the boss beat me up. If it hadn’t been for an old friend of my father’s pleading for me, I’d have been fired. I was so naive back then."

"Your father’s old friend? Was it Uncle Li?"

"No, it was someone else. But he’s gone now too. He was killed. He was..."

Old Man Zhuang didn’t finish, but Zhao Guihua understood.

She said seriously, "They were all so brave."

Old Man Zhuang nodded and said, "I could never be like that..."

Zhao Guihua said earnestly, "We might not be that brave or that strong, but we can live our lives well and not go easy on bad people. That’s enough."

"Right!"

"Let’s sleep. We’ve got manure to dump tomorrow..."

"Where are we going to get it?"

Zhao Guihua said, "I know. I’ve been sleeping near your back door for a few days. Around four in the morning, a manure cart passes by and stops not too far away. We’ll just steal a bit, hehe."

She was the kind of person who would repay grievances with grievances and debts with debts—quick to act and decisive in her retribution.

Old Man Zhuang looked at Zhao Guihua with admiration and said earnestly, "You're the most capable girl I've ever met."

Zhao Guihua replied, "Just for that, you better watch and see what I can do."

Old Man Zhuang chuckled.

A young man and woman sharing a room, even with a curtain between them, gradually grew familiar through their late-night conversations. As for the so-called boundaries between men and women, they existed, of course, but when you're poor and struggling to make ends meet, such concerns tend to fade.

In this neighborhood, everyone was dirt poor. Many families slept together on the same kang, old and young alike.

Some had makeshift beds to separate themselves, but it all depended on how they managed their lives.

These two young people chatted more than most, but neither was afraid. They weren't planning to stay here long anyway—who would remember them?

As they lay on the kang, unmoving, a faint noise suddenly came from outside the door, as if someone was trying to pry it open. Zhao Guihua immediately sat up. Old Man Zhuang also sensed it and quickly got up, pulling the curtain aside to look at her.

Zhao Guihua gestured silently, and Old Man Zhuang nodded. They tiptoed off the kang, with Zhao Guihua grabbing a kitchen knife and Old Man Zhuang picking up a fire poker.

With practiced coordination, they positioned themselves on either side of the door. Just as they set their trap, the door was forced open, and a figure crept inside. The moment the intruder stepped in, Old Man Zhuang swung the poker with all his might. "Ah!!!"

A sharp scream pierced the air as Zhao Guihua slashed with her knife.

A flash of cold steel, and the intruder stumbled back, falling to the ground. The person behind him froze for a moment, then raised a foot to kick at Zhao Guihua, but before he could land the blow, she hacked at him with her knife. He dodged clumsily, ending up in a split on top of his companion. Old Man Zhuang immediately followed up, raining blows with the poker while Zhao Guihua kicked without mercy.

"What's going on? What happened?"

"Why are they fighting?"

People in the courtyard began to gather, one of them holding a club for protection. Zhao Guihua stepped forward and said, "Give it to me."

The man hesitated, then handed it over. "Oh, okay."

Zhao Guihua took the club, much thicker than the fire poker, and swung it relentlessly. Thud! Thud! Thud!

"Ah!"

"They're going to kill someone!"

The two thieves screamed in unison. Old Man Zhuang recognized them and said, "They're from the same room I stayed in at the foot port. That one—he's with the guy who tried to rob me yesterday."

Zhao Guihua sneered, "So they came here to steal from us, huh? These kinds of thieves will rob anyone they can. They deserve to die!"

"Ah!"

Zhao Guihua showed no mercy, her strikes unrelenting. She knew that if she didn't make an example of them, they'd think she was an easy target and come back. It was also a warning to anyone else who might get ideas.

They had just moved here and didn't know anyone. A reputation as a fierce woman might not sound good, but it was effective.

Zhao Guihua swung the club again and again, while Old Man Zhuang continued his assault.

The two thieves were thoroughly beaten, and by now, the entire courtyard had come out to watch. They were stunned by the sight of this young woman, wielding a kitchen knife in one hand and a club in the other.

"I was wrong! I'll never do it again! Please spare me, spare me!"

"They're going to kill us! We just wanted to steal a little something..."

The onlookers murmured among themselves. No one stepped in to stop the beating, but no one called for their deaths either.

"You just wanted to steal a little something? Your buddy almost killed me yesterday! Don't tell me you were only after money. Why don't you go rob the rich instead? Those greedy bastards with mountains of gold and silver—why don't you go after them? No, you only pick on the poor, the weak, people like me who are just trying to get by. You think we're easy targets, don't you? How much money do you think I have? You're just heartless."

Old Man Zhuang wasn't weak or spineless. His words immediately turned the crowd against the two thieves.

Yes, they were all poor people here.

And the truth was, as he said, these thieves only dared to prey on the vulnerable, not the strong.

Zhao Guihua snapped, "Why waste your breath on them? Just kill them! They broke into our home—they brought this on themselves!"

She wouldn't actually kill them in front of everyone, but she had to make a statement.

"Ahhh! Sis, I was wrong! I swear I won't do it again! Please, let me go!"

"If you let us go, we'll do anything for you! We'll never dare to do this again!"

"We live nearby too! I never meant to hurt anyone, I just wanted some money... waaah!"

As they wailed, someone in the crowd recognized them. "Aren't you Old Zhang's cousins from the back street? You two little brats, always up to no good, breaking into houses. Shame on you!"

"Even rabbits don't eat the grass by their burrows. How could you steal from your own neighbors?"

"Waaah! We were wrong! We won't do it again, we swear!"

Since they were recognized as neighbors, someone finally spoke up. "Brother, sister, these kids live nearby. They're foolish, but they're not evil. Please give them a chance."

"Yeah, they're from the back street..."

Zhao Guihua put her hands on her hips. "If I let them go, what's to stop them from coming back for revenge?"

"We won't! I swear we won't!"

"I swear too! I'll never dare again... waaah!"

Zhao Guihua pretended to hesitate, and Old Man Zhuang naturally stood by her side. The person who had first spoken up said, "How about this? I'll go get their families. We'll make sure you get a proper resolution."

Zhao Guihua gave a reluctant "Hmph."

She and Old Man Zhuang exchanged a glance, a new understanding passing between them...